NA mulls changes to confidence vote rules

Sunday, June 08, 2014 13:54

HA NOI (VNS) — Lawmakers yesterday debated draft revisions to a National Assembly resolution on conducting a vote of confidence for people holding positions elected or approved by the NA and the People's Councils.

In the morning session, Nguyen Thi Nuong from the NA Standing Committee delivered a proposal on amendments and supplements to the NA's Resolution No 35/2012/QH13 on the vote of confidence. The lawmakers also heard a verification report of a draft resolution on revisions to Resolution No. 35/2012/QH13.

Most of the deputies agreed on the positions to be voted, which are of officials elected or approved by the National Assembly and the People's Councils at all levels.

Last year, all 47 officials passed the first ever vote of confidence during the 13th legislature's fifth session in Ha Noi, which was specified in three degrees – high confidence, confidence and low confidence.

However, Chu Son Ha and Bui Thi An from Ha Noi suggested that more positions should be added to the list.

Nguyen Thanh Bo, from the northern province of Thanh Hoa said that there should be a vote of confidence against even the Chief Judge of the People's Supreme Court, as the position is also approved by the National Assembly.

Some deputies suggested making the vote in two degrees, of "confidence" and "no confidence" instead of the current three.

Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam from HCM City wanted a clearer explanation for the three-degree vote.

"During my meetings with voters, they asked for the criteria under which some National Assembly deputies can get a vote of high confidence and others of less confidence, and I found it very difficult to answer such questions," she said.

The deputies said that when an official gets a vote of low confidence, or under 50 per cent of confidence, he should be encouraged to resign from his position, and the resignation culture should be built very soon.

Later, they examined a draft law on amendments and supplements to the Law on Vocational Training.

In the afternoon, the deputies held group discussions on the aforementioned draft resolution. They also gave opinions on draft revisions to the Law on Vietnamese Nationality, and the joining of the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and Aircraft Protocol.

Today, a plenary session will be held to debate the implementation of poverty reduction policies and laws from 2005 to 2012.

Question time

Four cabinet members will appear at the National Assembly's ongoing seventh session next week to answer questions about matters under their control.

They are the Minister of Finance, Dinh Tien Dung; the Minister of Education and Training, Pham Vu Luan; the Minister of Justice, Ha Hung Cuong; and General Inspector of the Government Inspectorate Huynh Phong Tranh.

Finance Minister Dung will answer deputies' questions on public-investment management, price and tax controls, and the restructuring of State-owned enterprises.

Minister Luan will be asked to clarify issues relating to education quality, particularly in tertiary education and vocational training, and plans for reforms.

Minister Cuong will be asked about the implementation of the 2013 Constitution and the enforcement of laws.

General Inspector Tranh will clarify issues about the settlement of complaints and denunciations and effective measures to prevent corruption.

The ministers and heads of relevant ministries and agencies will also go before the National Assembly to provide more details on the issues under discussion.